TNCC 9TH EDITION (2026/2027)
UPDATE|EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
MULTIPLE CHOICES |VERIFIED & REVISED
ANSWERS (NEW)!!!
1. A trauma patient arrives after a high-speed motor-vehicle collision. Which
assessment should the nurse prioritize initially?
A. Complete medical history
B. Primary survey
C. Detailed psychosocial assessment
D. Full medication reconciliation
Answer: B. Primary survey
Rationale: The initial trauma assessment prioritizes rapid identification and treatment of
immediate life threats. A systematic primary assessment comes before a detailed secondary
assessment.
2. In the initial trauma assessment, which problem requires immediate attention?
A. Minor extremity abrasion
B. Airway obstruction
C. Old surgical scar
D. Mild chronic back pain
Answer: B. Airway obstruction
Rationale: Airway compromise can rapidly lead to hypoxia and cardiac arrest. Life-threatening
airway problems must be identified and managed immediately.
3. A trauma patient has severe respiratory distress after blunt chest trauma.
Which finding is most concerning?
A. Mild chest tenderness
B. Absent breath sounds on one side with hypotension
,C. Small superficial abrasion
D. Mild anxiety
Answer: B. Absent breath sounds on one side with hypotension
Rationale: Unilateral absent breath sounds combined with hemodynamic compromise is highly
concerning for a life-threatening chest injury such as tension pneumothorax.
4. What is the principal purpose of the primary survey?
A. Obtain a complete social history
B. Identify and address immediate life threats
C. Complete discharge paperwork
D. Determine insurance coverage
Answer: B. Identify and address immediate life threats
Rationale: Trauma care prioritizes conditions that can rapidly cause death. The primary survey
provides a structured approach to finding those threats.
5. A patient has facial trauma and noisy respirations. What should the nurse
recognize?
A. The airway may be compromised
B. The patient is stable
C. Facial trauma never affects the airway
D. The sound indicates normal breathing
Answer: A. The airway may be compromised
Rationale: Facial trauma, blood, swelling and secretions can compromise the airway. Noisy
respirations can be an important warning sign.
6. Which finding suggests inadequate oxygenation?
A. Normal mental status
B. Cyanosis
C. Warm skin with normal color
D. Normal respiratory effort
,Answer: B. Cyanosis
Rationale: Cyanosis can indicate inadequate oxygenation, although it is a relatively late and
unreliable sign. Trauma patients require assessment of oxygenation and ventilation using the
complete clinical picture.
7. A trauma patient becomes increasingly confused and hypotensive. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Adequate perfusion
B. Shock
C. Normal response to hospitalization
D. Minor anxiety
Answer: B. Shock
Rationale: Hypotension and altered mental status can indicate inadequate tissue perfusion and
should prompt urgent evaluation for shock.
8. Which finding is most consistent with significant blood loss?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia in every patient
C. Increased urine output
D. Improved mental status
Answer: A. Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia is a common early compensatory response to reduced circulating
volume, although vital-sign patterns vary with age, medications and injury severity.
9. Which intervention is most appropriate for obvious severe external
hemorrhage?
A. Observe the wound
B. Apply appropriate direct pressure/hemorrhage-control measures
C. Delay treatment until imaging
D. Encourage ambulation
Answer: B. Apply appropriate direct pressure/hemorrhage-control measures
, Rationale: Life-threatening external hemorrhage requires immediate control using appropriate
techniques and available equipment.
10. A trauma patient has suspected cervical spine injury. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Encourage unrestricted neck movement
B. Maintain spinal precautions according to the patient's presentation and protocol
C. Ask the patient to rotate the neck repeatedly
D. Place the patient in a standing position
Answer: B. Maintain spinal precautions according to the patient's presentation and
protocol
Rationale: Trauma assessment should minimize unnecessary spinal movement when spinal
injury is suspected while following current evidence-based protocols.
11. Which patient requires the highest priority?
A. Patient with a small forearm abrasion
B. Patient with airway obstruction
C. Patient requesting water
D. Patient with a chronic rash
Answer: B. Patient with airway obstruction
Rationale: Airway compromise is an immediate life threat and takes priority over non-life-
threatening concerns.
12. What is the purpose of reassessment in trauma care?
A. To avoid repeating the examination
B. To identify changes in the patient's condition
C. To delay treatment
D. To replace the primary survey
Answer: B. To identify changes in the patient's condition
Rationale: Trauma patients can deteriorate rapidly. Reassessment helps detect new or worsening
problems and determines whether interventions are effective.
UPDATE|EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
MULTIPLE CHOICES |VERIFIED & REVISED
ANSWERS (NEW)!!!
1. A trauma patient arrives after a high-speed motor-vehicle collision. Which
assessment should the nurse prioritize initially?
A. Complete medical history
B. Primary survey
C. Detailed psychosocial assessment
D. Full medication reconciliation
Answer: B. Primary survey
Rationale: The initial trauma assessment prioritizes rapid identification and treatment of
immediate life threats. A systematic primary assessment comes before a detailed secondary
assessment.
2. In the initial trauma assessment, which problem requires immediate attention?
A. Minor extremity abrasion
B. Airway obstruction
C. Old surgical scar
D. Mild chronic back pain
Answer: B. Airway obstruction
Rationale: Airway compromise can rapidly lead to hypoxia and cardiac arrest. Life-threatening
airway problems must be identified and managed immediately.
3. A trauma patient has severe respiratory distress after blunt chest trauma.
Which finding is most concerning?
A. Mild chest tenderness
B. Absent breath sounds on one side with hypotension
,C. Small superficial abrasion
D. Mild anxiety
Answer: B. Absent breath sounds on one side with hypotension
Rationale: Unilateral absent breath sounds combined with hemodynamic compromise is highly
concerning for a life-threatening chest injury such as tension pneumothorax.
4. What is the principal purpose of the primary survey?
A. Obtain a complete social history
B. Identify and address immediate life threats
C. Complete discharge paperwork
D. Determine insurance coverage
Answer: B. Identify and address immediate life threats
Rationale: Trauma care prioritizes conditions that can rapidly cause death. The primary survey
provides a structured approach to finding those threats.
5. A patient has facial trauma and noisy respirations. What should the nurse
recognize?
A. The airway may be compromised
B. The patient is stable
C. Facial trauma never affects the airway
D. The sound indicates normal breathing
Answer: A. The airway may be compromised
Rationale: Facial trauma, blood, swelling and secretions can compromise the airway. Noisy
respirations can be an important warning sign.
6. Which finding suggests inadequate oxygenation?
A. Normal mental status
B. Cyanosis
C. Warm skin with normal color
D. Normal respiratory effort
,Answer: B. Cyanosis
Rationale: Cyanosis can indicate inadequate oxygenation, although it is a relatively late and
unreliable sign. Trauma patients require assessment of oxygenation and ventilation using the
complete clinical picture.
7. A trauma patient becomes increasingly confused and hypotensive. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Adequate perfusion
B. Shock
C. Normal response to hospitalization
D. Minor anxiety
Answer: B. Shock
Rationale: Hypotension and altered mental status can indicate inadequate tissue perfusion and
should prompt urgent evaluation for shock.
8. Which finding is most consistent with significant blood loss?
A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia in every patient
C. Increased urine output
D. Improved mental status
Answer: A. Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia is a common early compensatory response to reduced circulating
volume, although vital-sign patterns vary with age, medications and injury severity.
9. Which intervention is most appropriate for obvious severe external
hemorrhage?
A. Observe the wound
B. Apply appropriate direct pressure/hemorrhage-control measures
C. Delay treatment until imaging
D. Encourage ambulation
Answer: B. Apply appropriate direct pressure/hemorrhage-control measures
, Rationale: Life-threatening external hemorrhage requires immediate control using appropriate
techniques and available equipment.
10. A trauma patient has suspected cervical spine injury. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Encourage unrestricted neck movement
B. Maintain spinal precautions according to the patient's presentation and protocol
C. Ask the patient to rotate the neck repeatedly
D. Place the patient in a standing position
Answer: B. Maintain spinal precautions according to the patient's presentation and
protocol
Rationale: Trauma assessment should minimize unnecessary spinal movement when spinal
injury is suspected while following current evidence-based protocols.
11. Which patient requires the highest priority?
A. Patient with a small forearm abrasion
B. Patient with airway obstruction
C. Patient requesting water
D. Patient with a chronic rash
Answer: B. Patient with airway obstruction
Rationale: Airway compromise is an immediate life threat and takes priority over non-life-
threatening concerns.
12. What is the purpose of reassessment in trauma care?
A. To avoid repeating the examination
B. To identify changes in the patient's condition
C. To delay treatment
D. To replace the primary survey
Answer: B. To identify changes in the patient's condition
Rationale: Trauma patients can deteriorate rapidly. Reassessment helps detect new or worsening
problems and determines whether interventions are effective.
